Feathers Of A Bird

Chapter : Thirteen (Part Two)

(Listen to the music while reaping for a better experience!)

With my brown diary in my hand, in which I used to write everything, Dad and I peeked into the kitchen to see if mom and aunt were there. I, as always, loved the fact that dad constantly pretended as if mom was the teacher he feared. And that's why he didn't want to get near her. As if he was frightened that she might ask him a question about the history of Earth and he wouldn't be able to answer. And then she'll punish him. While nothing similar to that was happening in real life. I was certain that he was acting all normal just to make ME feel okay. I sighed.

"Oops! Looks like no one is here, we're good to go!"
Dad asserted.

I was going to laugh. But right at that moment, we heard someone scoff from the stairs.
"No one is here? You're good to go? What, are you trying to steal Kathy?"
I heard aunt's voice.

Dad and I looked back at the stairs and watched them coming down. Mom was walking behind aunt with a down outlook and aunt had this evil smile on her face.
She continued,
"Well, if that's what you were trying to do- stealing Kathy- I'm sorry, you are not going to succeed."

I stood still beside dad. Dad threw a smile at her and said,
"Hello to you too- ah what was your name again?"

I tried hard not to laugh and succeeded.

"Oh sorry, Ava! Hello to you too, Ava! I gotta admit, that was one hell of a way to greet someone!"
He said as he peeked at me and winked. I kept trying not to laugh which I think he considered as laughter.

"Yeah, you people always try to see the world as a funny and easy place while you are even the ones who ruin other people's happiness."
Aunt replied.

Dad scoffed this time.
"I ruin other people's happiness?"

"Of course you do! You LEFT my sister! You brok-"

"And why did I do that? Ever questioned yourself? Nope, you apparently haven't! Because you're so blinded by your ego and by your LIES."
Dad said as he smiled at them.

"Whatever, don't think saying these will make you innocent."
Aunt said.

Dad laughed,
"Alright! And you don't also think blaming me will make your sister more innocent and will erase what she did."

"Stop your bullshit, Arthur! And where are you taking Kathy?"
Mom said, talking for the first time.

"Where do you think?"

"Don't even get me started."
Mom made an annoyed face.
"Kathy isn't going anywhere with you."

I didn't know if it was just me or aunt was smiling like an actual evil and nodding.
Daddy shrugged,
"As if you care about her!"

Mom laughed as if dad made the funniest joke ever. And aunt shook her head with that evil smile and walked to the kitchen.

"No, no! Don't laugh!"
Dad said.
"YOU laughing at it sounds SO wrong, trust me! Because if you actually cared for her them she wouldn't be all alone by herself in her hard times. She wouldn't doubt her writing skills. And most importantly-"
Dad took a deep breath. I closed my eyes gently, I knew what he was going I say.
"Most importantly...if you ever cared about your children, Kathy would NEVER have to lose her big sister."

I let a hefty breath leave my lungs. It wasn't for the sadness that it was a brutal truth, it wasn't for relief that dad gave a fantastic answer to THEIR brutality- it seemed to me that, the sigh was just stuck in my body and needed to get out. Felt weird.

Dad didn't seem like he felt so good to say it. Daddy felt bad too, that's who he was. He found no pleasure in hurting others, unlike mom and aunt. But reality made him say that. I had this urge to hold his hand and make him realize I'm with him. But, I didn't. I didn't hold his hand. I stood there like a sculpture.

He started talking JUST to not make them feel awkward,
"Back to the topic. Where I'm taking Kathy-"

Aunt stopped him in mid-sentence,
"No, the topic was- you can't take Kathy anywhere. We won't let you."

Dad laughed,
"As if I'm stealing Kathy, my daughter, forever!"

"You might steal her, who knows?"

That was when I realised I HAD to say something.
"I would rather be stolen by dad than staying with you people..."
Slowly said I.

"Ah!"
Aunt waved her hand like she heard the most stupid thing ever. And mom stayed silent like she was.

Dad smiled,
"So! Don't worry, I won't steal my daughter even if she wants me to steal her. I will take her right back here in 2 hours. Adios!"

"Yeah, yeah! Go screw yourself!"
Aunt mocked.

Daddy waved at her. Then he looked at mom and waved at her as well. And then he walked to the door and out his shoes on. I went after him and put mine on.
Right before walking out of the door, I looked back, for some reason, and waved at them too.
Coming outside of the house, dad and I started laughing.

"Did you see their faces?!"
I chuckled.

"Their faces were fun, but what happened wasn't, to be honest."
Dad replied.
"But let's forget it!"
He chuckled too.

We began strolling along the street. I wondered how he will find Ryan's house.
Holding dad's hand, I looked up at the sky. The sun was about to set. There was this refreshing, warm light and a cold, Earthly smell. It rained a little while ago, so the weather was wet and sweet.
It felt unbelievably good to have a walk on such heavenly weather with your father, who you love the most.

"Dad, how will we find Ryan? We don't have his address!"

"Jokes on you, you don't even have his number!"
He chuckled and facepalmed.

I laughed awkwardly.

He asked,
"How is your insomnia?"

"The same."

"Nothing is working?

"Dad, medication is bullshit."

"Yeah, yeah! How much do you sleep?"

"I usually fall asleep at 3 something...and wake up and 6. And after school, I sometimes sleep at- like, 3 and wake up and 4:30 or something. So like, almost 5 hours?"

Dad looked at me, looking concerned.

I quickly said again,
"It's fine! I'm totally workable with 5 hours of sleep!"

He nodded and looked straight again, nevertheless looking concerned.
He asked again,
"Anything that helps? Even a little bit?"

"Well..."
I closed my eyes.

The purest and softest melody I had ever heard in my life, played again in my ears.

"Hold tight
You will sleep one night
Things will be alright
Just don't stop to fight
Stars will come tonight
Rest your bright eyesight
Hold tight
Hold me tonight"

Without even realising, I smiled.
"Yes, dad. Something helps."

"I know right?! Something must help! What is it?!"
He got excited.

"So...something happened on the day we were coming back from the school trip."

-•-

A veeeeery special thanks to Lemonia56 for helping me with the lyrics of the song that popped up in Kathy's head when Arthur (her dad) asked what helps her! Thank you so much, love!🥰